: syndicated columnist mark shields and "new york times" columnist david brooks. >> brown: developing fiscal cliff, walking short time ago the president came out of the meeting with congressional leaders and said he was modestly optimistic. are you? >> no no i think everyone is trying to look busy so when we go over he can say we tried. he came back from hawaii, he had to do something. so they had a meeting. if you don't have new offers you don't have progress. you did have a frank exchange but they in in the business of macking a deal there is no real evidence that they moved. so i remain that we will probely go oferm then once that happens then all sort of things start a lining. speaker boehner gets reelect as speaker t is easier to pass a tax cut than do it beforehand. everyone goes crazy outside so there is more pressure. so i still think it's much more likely that not much has happened. >> what do you think? looking busy that's all that is happening right now? >> i think that it was a chance, on january 3rd he has the votes from the republican congress land there is no reason to